How to lower cholesterol naturally

by DR JOHN BRIFFA, Daily Mail

The cholesterol-lowering drug Lipobay (cerivastatin) was withdrawn last month by pharmaceutical giant Bayer. It has been linked with a number of deaths caused by a condition characterised by muscle breakdown, known as rhabdomyolysis.

There have also been more than 1,000 reports of muscle weakness associated with the drug's use. Doctors will be looking to swop patients from Lipobay to other drugs which have a similar action in the body, such as Lipitor (atorvastatin) or Zocor (simvastatin).

However, there is some evidence that drugs which work in the same way as Lipobay - known as statins - could also cause rhabdomyolysis in a small number of people.

As a result, a consumer watchdog organisation in the U.S. is calling for all statin drugs to carry warning labels.

In the light of these revelations about the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering medications, some people are turning to natural medicines.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance transported around the body in the bloodstream. It can build up inside our arteries and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

It comes in two forms - low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL).

Raised levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) so it has been dubbed 'bad' cholesterol.

HDL is associated with a reduced risk of atherosclerosis and so is referred to as 'good' cholesterol.

Only a quarter of the cholesterol in the bloodstream comes from the diet. The rest is made naturally in the liver.

Statin drugs such as Lipobay work by slowing down the rate at which the liver manufactures cholesterol.

It has long been known that there is a risk of these drugs causing inflammation in the liver (hepatitis), which is why liver function tests are often recommended for patients taking statin drugs. The problems of muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis has been recognised only recently, which may well cause doctors to be even more reticent about starting a patient on this therapy.

High cholesterol levels often respond to a dietary approach. Some foods, such as soya milk, tofu, oat bran, live yoghurt, walnuts, garlic and onions, are

known to have a cholesterol-lowering effect, so these foods should be included in the diet.

As well as reducing the level of LDL in the body, certain foods can help increase the level of 'good' cholesterol HDL.

Oily fish (eg salmon, mackerel, herring, trout, tuna) and raw garlic appear to do this, which makes them good choices for anyone with high cholesterol.

Exercise has been shown to raise HDL levels. This is likely to be one of the reasons why regular exercise reduces the risk of conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the role of compounds called sterols and stanols in reducing cholesterol. Found in plants, their chemical structure is similar to that of cholesterol.

Because of this, sterols and stanols can block the absorption of cholesterol from the gut, so reducing cholesterol in the bloodstream.

At a dose of 2g per day, sterols and stanols appear to reduce the risk of heart disease by 25per cent. Some food manufacturers add sterols and/or stanols to products such as margarine or cream cheese.

But while sterols and stanols may help reduce cholesterol, the fat these products contain may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, so it is not appropriate for everyone.

Sterols and stanols are available in supple-ment form under the name Lestrin, which can be found in health food stores.

Two other natural substances which may help to reduce cholesterol levels are niacin (a form of vitamin B3) and chromium.

Large doses of niacin (3g a day) have been shown to substantially reduce total cholesterol levels and increase HDL levels. As a result, it is gaining popularity as a cholesterol treatment.

However, such large doses can be toxic to the body, particularly the liver, and may induce problems such as flushing, nausea and queasiness. Because of this, large doses of niacin should be taken under the supervision of a doctor.

Chromium has been shown to reduce cholesterol and increase HDL levels. It is believed that niacin and chromium work well in combination. One report suggests that just 100mg of niacin combined with 200mcg of chromium a day may be effective in reducing cholesterol levels for some people.